![]() With a gas leak threatening to blow up the house, Melanson is shown pushing past debris to get inside the home and look for a missing woman.Ĭouncilwoman Yvonne Arceneaux said it’s hard to reconcile that man with the allegations he is now facing. Clad in full firefighter gear, Melanson calmly directs crew members as they pull residents out of a home hit by the small plane. In one episode, he and his team respond to a plane crash in the city. On the BET reality series “First In,” Melanson emerged as a star. Melanson had worked for the department for about 15 years, rising to the rank of interim deputy chief when still in his early 30s. Before that, the state of California filed a $29,000 tax lien against him in 2005 that was released in 2007. In July 2007, the IRS filed a $80,240 lien against Melanson, records show. Melanson was known to have financial problems. City Manager Harold Duffey said that as far as he was aware, no other city employees had been disciplined in connection with the incident.įire officials from Long Beach and Montebello investigated the potential arson, while the Sheriff’s Department looked into the embezzlement allegations. Melanson was placed on administrative leave shortly after the blaze and was fired in February 2013. The city eventually got about $300,000 back through insurance.īatiste said Melanson was the only firefighter at the station when the blaze broke out, and his co-workers wondered how someone with his training could have allowed the fire to get so far out of hand. Authorities allege Melanson stole many of the radios and then burned the rest. The fire broke out at a racquetball court at the city’s Fire Department headquarters, where the radio equipment was stored. But the police department was never established, and the city was stuck with the radios. ![]() The city spent at least $1.7 million on preparations to set up a department, including more than $1 million on Motorola communications equipment. The City Council voted in June 2010 to bring back the Compton Police Department, using bond funds reallocated from other projects. He sat on a three-person technology committee that was instrumental in the purchase of the police radios he is now accused of stealing. Those earlier charges relate to other equipment stolen from the city.Ĭity officials said Melanson was known as a communications wiz and an expert in emergency radio systems. The criminal complaint filed against Melanson showed the theft and embezzlement allegations dating back to 2008, well before the December 2011 fire. “I don’t believe my client committed this crime, and I’m concerned about an alleged expert changing his opinion,” Rico said. The investigator recently changed his mind, Rico added. Melanson’s defense attorney, Robert Rico, said that he is still reviewing the case but that a Long Beach Fire Department investigator being used as an expert initially determined the fire was not an arson. If convicted, he would face a maximum of 10 years and eight months in state prison, said Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. He pleaded not guilty and remained jailed, with bail set at $350,000. Melanson was charged Friday with arson, grand theft and embezzlement. ![]() Authorities allege that Melanson stole much of the equipment and set the rest on fire, hoping the missing radios would not be detected. U.S.The city came close to insolvency in 2011, and officials hoped to sell the equipment to recoup some much-needed cash. Tags: cancer in the fire service, Chief Dennis Compton, Chief Ernest Mitchell Jr. Coordinating with Compton Fire was a bit of problem because of difference. Even the frequency of the emergency calls you’re on,īecause it only takes one.” – Chief Dennis Compton, Chairman of the Board, NFFF I am sure the wardrobe people spotted the name badge and switched it back to. Click Here for More Information white notification. “It has nothing to do with what size department you’re with. Modification to Waste Services Billing Effective: July 1, 2023. The mission of the Los Angeles County Fire Department is to protect lives, the environment, and property by providing prompt, skillful, and cost-effective. Hear what they have to say about why cancer-prevention is so important. Fire Administratorįirefighters and authorities who’ve dealt with cancer first-hand or who’ve watched others battle it share their stories in “The Silent Killer: Firefighter Cancer”. You are subjected to cancer-causing agents,” Chief Ernest Mitchell, Jr., U.S. ![]() No matter what type of a firefighter you are. But many firefighters may not follow the advice of researchers and experts because they think it will never happen to them. Name Job title Regular pay Overtime pay Other pay Total pay Benefits Pension debt Total pay & benefits Charles K Nelson: Street Superintendent Compton, 2014: 0.00: 0. There’s no question that the number of firefighters affected by cancer is on the rise. ![]()
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